Safety-razor.



W. A. SMITH. SAFETY RAZOR'.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 22, 1909.

978,230. Patented Dec. 13,1910.

ATTO/MIE YS' PATENT OFFICE. u

WILLIS A. SMITH, or NEW YORK, N'. Y.

SAFETY-RAZOR.

.Specification of Iietters Patent.

Application led April 22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

serial No. 491,572.

To all whom 'Lt .may concern:

Razors, of which the following is a speci- .manner that said fication.`

This invention is a safety razor embodying in its construction a blade movable during the shaving operation. with respect to the holder which supports it.

Prior to my invention, safety razors of the ordinary type to be found on the market employ a separable holder of one type or another, and a blade held rigidly inthe holder, a common form of construction involving means for rigidly clamping the blade relatively to a comb or guard plate.

One object of this invention is to secure a draw or shear cut by the blade during4 the operation of movin the razor over the face, for 'the purpose o increasing the ease and facility of shaving, and thereby obviate in a great measure the pull of the razor on the beard.

A further object is to facilitate the adjustment of the blade .with respect to the teeth of the comb or guard plate, such adjustment being effected vwithout interfering with the movement of the blade relative to `the holder; and a further object is to simplify the construction and render easy and quick ,the operations of insertinga blade into, or removing it from, the holder.

According to the present invention, a holder of suitable construction is employed as a means for sup orting a blade in such a lade is movable bodily within'said holder. In one practical form of construction, the blade is reciprocatory, and it is operated by turning or rocking the handle, suitable mechanical connections bemg employed intermediate said blade and the handle whereby the blade is operated. The razor is thus capable of operation to secure a compound'movement, to wit: the razor as an entirety is adapted to be drawn by hand over the flesh, carrying the blade with it, and the blade 4is given a reciprocating movement within the holder of said razor, said reciprocation of the blade being simultaneous wlth the movement of the razor.

The invention consists, also, in the employment of means for adjusting the blade edgewise relative to the comb or guard blade for the purpose of bringing the shar edge of said blade closer to the teeth of sai(V comb or uard plate.

ther features and advantages of the invention will be set forth hcreinaftcr in connection with the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of t-he invention, but the construction shown therenis to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention, the several views being shown' enlarged for clearness of illustration.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, artly in elevation, of a safety razor embo ying my invention. Fig. 2 1s an elevation looking toward the back end of the razor and toward the right-hand side of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan v1ew of the razor. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the' line 5 5. of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view through the retaining plate illustrating one of the side flanges thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a cross section through the handle on the line 8-8 of Fig. l lookingin the direction of the arrow'in order to show the spring which acts to normally position the blade mid-way between the limits of its stroke.. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blade.

A designates the comb or guard plate, B the retaining plate G a stay plate, the said plates forming what may be generically termed the holder for blade, D. Plates, A, B, C, are flat and positioned parallel to each other. Said retaining plate is provided at its end edges with flanges, b, each flange being formed with a groove, b', and with a perforated lug or ear, b2, see Fig. 6, the front edge of said retaining, late being beveled or curved, as at b3. Saidp related to the cmb or guard plate, A, that the flanges, I, will'embrace. the end edges of` the guard plate, and the corresponding edges of the stay plate, C, as shown in Fig. 2.

retaining plate is so Said stay plate is in spaced relation to the 4guard plate in order to provide an intervening space or chamber, c, for the reception of devices lwhich will vpresently be described,

' and the stay plate is provided with lugs, 0',-

adapted to register with lugs, b?, ofthe retaining plate, whereby pivots, c?, may be passed yt-hrough the registering lugs, c b2,

as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of pivot` ally connecting retaining plate, B, tostay plate, C. This construction permits a rela.-

tive movement ofretaining plate,- B, to comb or guard plate, A, and when said retaining plate is in an opened position, blade, D, may be inserted or removed as desired.

Comb or guard plate, A, is provided at its front edge with a series of teeth, a, forming the comb or guard,said teeth being beveled as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. 4Said guard plate is parallel to the retaining plate in 'order that blade, D, mayfit snugly between the two plates and have free movement with rel Aspect to them. It will be recalled that the retaining plate is pivotallyconnected' to the stay plate, and as shown in the drawings,

the comb plate is intermediate said retaining gage with a notch, b', in an end flange,` b, of

the retaining plate.V While various forms of latches may be used to detachably fasten plates, A, B, in fixed relation to each other, the eccentrically pivoted disks, E, afford simple, effective and convenient; means for securing the end sought, particularly as each latch is provided with a suitable knob` or handle, e, for. its easy manipulation. It

' will be understood that latches, E, are adjusted into engagement with the notchesyb', and occupy the position shown in Fig. 4 for fastening plates, A, B., lfirmly together,`

whereby blade, D, is confined laterally between^said guard and retaining plates, but when the latches are turned on pivot, e, to disengage the edges of said latchesfrom the notches, plate, B, may be swung away from plate, A, and the blade, thus exposingthe .f

' blade to easy access for the purpose of in# serting or removing it vas desired.

Guard plate, A, is yprovided with a segmental slot, a', which registers with the cor` responding slot, b3, in retaining plate, B,

and, furthermore, said guard plate is provided with other segmental. slots, a?, a3, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, said slots, a2, a3, being in register with slots,'.bj12 55, respectively, in .the retaining plate. j

.For the purpose of adjusting blade, D, so that its sharpened edge, d, will be in'proper 'relation to the teeth, a, of comb plate, A

shown more clearly in Fig.

its movement withrespect to the holder, I

between stay plate, `C, and comb plate, A. Said adjusting .f and ,guidin devices are as eccentrics, F, each-having a pin or stud, The pin or `stud of `one eccentric' passes through the 1 coincidentslots, a2, b4, ofthe guard and retai-'ning plates,'whereas the st-ud or pin of the other eccentric passes through coincident slats, a3, b5, of said at orV near its respect-ive end edges, said slots being parallel to the cutting edge, d. The

blade is positioned between plates, A, B, for

and for `guiding or directingsaid blade in l -e-mploysuitable devices which are position-ed its parallel slots, d', to'alinepr register with slots, a2, b4, and a3, b5, whereby studs or pins,

f, will engage of the blade. v A

Each eccentric, F, is provided with an operating knob orhandle, f', andsaid eccentrics are so positioned between guard plate, A, andl stayplate, C, that said knobs or handles, f', extend beyond the rear edges ro-f the holder, whereby the eccentrics may be adjusted easily, although said eccentrics are housed or contained between theguard plate f and the stay plate.I

Each eccentric,-F,yis held in fixed relation to the stay plate and thel guard plate by a screw, g. The screw is fastened rigidly loosely throu'ghan opening, gf, in stay plate, C, so thatv the screw projects beyond t-he ex'- posed face of the stay plate. The eccentric to the guard-plate, and saidscrew passes has an opening produced eccentrically tothe axis thereof, and this hole receives the screw, g, so that he eccentric maybeturned or adjusted by hand on the screw. Th eccentrics and their pivot screws are positioned ynear the end edges of guard and stay plates, A, C, and said screws are engaged by nuts, G, which are shown as having a notch, g2, for the receptionof a' suitable implement where by each nut vmay be'turned on its screw for the purpose of clamping the eccentric firmly between the .guard plate and the stay plate.

It is evident that 'the nuts may be slackened incorder to release the eccentrics from clamping engagement withv said plates, and when so released said veccentrics may be adjusted by manipulating their knobs, f', in order to turn the studs or pins, f,'in the curved slots of the guard and retaining plates. By reference to Fig. 4 it will :be `understood that guard andaretaining f 'l K plates. Blade, D, is providedwith slots, d',

when theyaare turned inthe direction indicated by the arrows, the pins, f, will be l movedltoward the teeth, a, of guard plate, A, thereby adjusting blade, D, toward the free ends of said teeth, but an adjustment of the eccentrics in an opposite direction will move blade, D, edgwise toward the heel of the holder, thus withdrawing the sharpened edge yof the blade rearwardly from the points ofthe teeth on the comb plate. After thel blade shall have been adjusted to the required position relatively to the teeth of the comb plate, nuts, G, are tightened and eccentrics, F, are -clamped fixedly in position against comb plate, and as the eccentrics are held from movement the pins or studs, f, remain in stationary positions so that the pins will serve as the means for guiding blade, D, in its reciprocating movements.

Asa proper means for impart-ing move- 'ment to blade, D, I employ a handle, H,

yits respective ends and interiorly thereof with the disks or heads, L, h. Said disks may be fastened rigidly to the hollow handle by any suitable means, but as shown in Fig. l, one or both of the disks may be provided with an annular groove, h2, into which is forced an inwardly extending rib of the handle for the purpose of locking the disks within said hollow handle.

The hollow handle is connected opera- -tively with the holder by a stem, I, which extends lengthwise within said handle and through Aalined openings in the disks or heads, It, t, see Fig. l. Saidlstem is attached firmly to stay plate, C, and for this purpose the stem is provided with a head, z, and a collar, z", said head and collar being spaced in order'to provide a groove, 2, adapted to receive the stay'plate, as shown in Fig. 1. Collar, li, of the stem is adapted to engage with the stay plate when an end portion of the stem is inserted through an opening in the stay plate, after which said end part of the stem is upset in any suitable way or by any suitablemeans so as to produce the head, z', whereby the stem is fastened securely to the stay plate, the headed end,v',` of the-stem .being received in the chamber, c, between guard plate, A, and stay plate, C. Collarf ofthe stem engages, also,.with head or disk, h, andmear its other end tlie^stem is provided with another collar, 3, adapted for engagement with the other disk or head, h', whereby the collars, z", ia. of the stem coperate with the hea-ds or disks, h, L, in order to preclude endwise movement of the handle on the stem, and at the same time, permit said handleto lturn freely en said stem. If desired, collar,"3, may be f astened or clamped removably to the stem to lfacilitate the assemblage or removal of the parts. That part of the handle which lies next to the stay plate maybe finished 'by ,providing a ribbed part, j, and beyond this ribbed part of the handle extends an operating pin, the latter being eccentric to the axls o motlon of the handle. Said plate, C,

is provided with a segmental slot, j', whichv to stem, I.

\ gages with one'inger,

registers with slots, a, b3, of the guard and retaining plates, and pin, J, extends from the handle vso as to operate in the slots, j', a', b3, of the stay, guard, and retaining plates, respectively. Said eccentric pin works in a slot, d4, provided in blade, D, said slot opening through the rear edge of the blade and being at an angle, preferably a right angle, to the'beveled edge, d, and slots, d', of said blade. The eccentric pin moves with the handle when it is rocked or turned on the stem, I, and said pin engages with.the slotted part, d4, of the blade so as to serve as the operative connection between the' pivoted handle and the reciprocating blade. When the handle is turned Vin'one direction, eccentric pin, J, rides against 011e edge of slot, d4, and moves blade, D, in one direction, but a reverse turn of the handle, H, moves pin, J, in an opposite direction and causes it to yengage with the other edge of slot, d4, thereby moving said blade, D, in an opposite direction, whereby as the handle is turned back and forth in drawing the razor over the face said blade, D, is given a reciprocating motion for the purpose of securing a draw or shear cut on the beard.

It is desirable at times to retain blade, D, in a fixed position, and to this end, I provide means for clamping the handle firmly One means for securing this result is a bindino' screw, K, which is supported in the handle and its head, h, whereby the screw .may impinge stem, I, and lock the handle firmly agalnst the stem, thus precluding the handle from turning and the blade from reciprocating. V

A finish is given to the handle by employing a cap, rL, adapted to fit friction tight said bladeto a normal position. One em- ^`bodiment of this part of the invention is shown in Figs. l and 8, wherein the outer free end of stem, I, is provided with a spring, M, the same being a leaf spring, extending transversely through the outer extremity of stem, I. The end portions of said spring, M, engage with fingers, m, of' handle, H`, and when said handle is turned in one direction one endV of the spring enm, so that when pressure on the handle is relaxed the spring will tend to return thevhandle and blade to a central position. Should the handle be turned in an opposite directionthe other end of the spring will press Vagainst the other finger, m, and thus the handle and the blade will be again returned to their normalI positions by decreasing the pressure on said handle. Spring, M, thus acts 'to retain blade, D, in a position mid-,way between. the

' limitsof'its movement inl either direction.

as follows: To place a blade, such as Di shown in Fig. 9, in position, latches, E, are

Of course, the spring may /beV variously' P12"Ced and Various constructionsof the" spring may be employed, but the example shown and described affords a simple and effective means for retaining the blade in its operative position. l

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, but it may be summarized briefly released from notches,` b', and retaining plate, B, is turnedon the pivots, c2. Blade,

D, ma now` be placed against the comb plate, for its slots, df, to receive guide pins, .'f,.and Vits slots, d?, to receive eccentric pin, J.

Theretaining plate may now be closed against the blade, and latches, E, adjusted to the position of Fig. 4 and into engagement with notches, b', to lock plates, A and B, in parallel relation. Screw, K, being free from engagement' with stem, I, handle,l H, may be turned on said stem. When the razor is drawn vacross the face, the edge, d, of the blade will act to cut the beard, but the eiiiciency of .the vcutting operation is increased by rocking or turning handle, H, onstem, I',- so that pin, J, will impart reciprocating m0- tion to blade, D, the spring, M, assisting in the operation of imparting reciprocating movement to said blade. The razor is thu-s ,capable of a compound movement, first, a

.movement-across the surface to be shaved,

and second, a reciprocating movement of blade, D, dueto'the operator turning handle,

H, so yas to' swing eccentric pin, J, back and forth, said reciprocating movement of the blade-taking place simultaneously with the movement of the razoracross the face.

The razor may be washed or cleansed in any usual ,or convenient way, but after the "and 'the razor bladeto be sharpened.

shaving operation is completed, latches, E,

f are released, plate, B, swung outwardly and blade,4 D, lremoved, thus permitting of the parts to be` thoroughly .cleaned and dried,

`It is preferred to employ a thin flat blade having parallel faces and a sharpened edge. The blade may be ri 'd or elastic asmost desired. The plates, B,'C, are flat-so that they may be stamped` rapidly and economically to their required form and from pieces ofl sheet metal, thus securing economy in the manufacture of the' device.v Latohes, E, and eccentrics, F, are, also, flat plates which may be convenientl stamped from suitable mate# rial, and obviously, the blade, D, may be stamped in the required form, tempered and sharpened in any usual way. The entire de; j vice is quit-e simple'in construction, and the l parts of said device may be rapidly manu'- factured by suitable machinery, and assemavaa V bled in an expeditious manner, with or. with- -out skilled labor, so that the cost of manuv facture is minimized.

lHaving thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new, and vdesire tof secure.

by Letters Patentis:

1. In a safety razor, a blade-holder, a stem projecting from said blade-holder, a handle onthe stem and movablerelatively 'to the blade-holder, a blade having a reciprocating movement relatively 'to the bla-deholder, and means operatively connecting said blade and the handle whereby the blade A is reciprocated bythe movement of the han- 'dle relatively to the holder.

2. In a safety razor, a blade-holder comprising a plurality of plates'two f which are hinged for movement sidewisewith relation to each other and another ofsaid plates being intermediate said hinged plates,

a blade positioned between the intermediate plate and one of the hinged plates', a movable handle, means for connecting said handle to the blade-holder, and means for operatively connecting said handle and the blade whereby the blade-is operated by the movement of the handle relatively to the holder.

3. A safety razor comprisin a holder, a lmovable handle, means connectingv said handle and the `blade holder whereby the handle may be turned on its axis, a blade movable with respect to said holder, 'and means op-v eratively connectili the blade and the handle, whereby the I) Within the holder by the movement'of said handle relative to said holder.

4. A safety razor comprising a holder, a

ladeV may be operatedv handle connected to said holder for move- 6'. A'safety razor comprising a holder, a i

,reciprocatory blade supportedv on said holder, means for guiding said blade, a handle',` means connecting the handle to said `'holder for movement relativeI thereto, and means operatively connecting the bladeand the handle whereby said vblade is recipro; cated relative to the holder byrthe relative movement of said handle to the holder.

7. A safety razor comprising a holder, a

stem connectedl to said holder, a reciproca.-

tory blade supported on said holder, a handle fitted to-said stem for axial movement with respect tothe holder, and means operatively connecting the blade and the handle whereby the blade is reciprocated by the movement of the handle.

8. A safety razor comprising a holder, a

reciprocatory blade thereon, means for directing the movement of said blade, a stem, a handle supported on said stem for axial movement thereon, and an operating pin in eccentric relation to the handle and operatively connected to said blade, whereby thel movement of said pin by the operation of the handle imparts reciprocating movement to the blade.

9. A safety razor comprising a holder, a blade movable with respect thereto, a handle, means connecting the handle to said holder, whereby, the handle isl movable relative to the holder, means connecting the blade and thehandle forI operatin the blade by movement of the handle, an a spring coperating withsaid )blade for retaining it in a position intermediate the limits of its movement.

10.y A safety razor comprising a holder, a reciprocatory blade, a handle, means connectmg the handle to the holder whereby the handle is movable relatively to the holder,

means operatively connecting said handle'l and the blade for reciprocating said blade by the movement of the handle relative to the holder, and a'spring coperating with said handle, whereby the blade is retained in a position intermediate the limits of its move- Vmeans. operated, by the handle for imparting reciprocating movement to said blade, and means cooperating with the blade for bodily adjusting said blade in a direction parallel with the guard plate, whereby the operative position of the edge of the blade relative to the toothed edge of the plate may be varied.

12. In a safety razora holder provided with a toothed guard plate, a reciprocating blade supportedb, in said holder, a handle, means operated by the handle for imparting reciprocating movement t0 said blade, and pivoted members supported yby the holder and cooperating with the blade for adjusting said blade in a direction parallel to the guard plate, whereby the edge of the blade'may be adjusted toward or from an edge of the guard plate.

13. In a safety razor, a holder com risin a 'guardy plate, a retaining plate Ixinge thereto, a stay plate, and means for clamping the guard plate in fixed relation to the l retainingplate and the stay plate, combined with a movable blade confined between the guard and retaining plates, a handle, means for connecting the handle to the stay plate, whereby the handle is movable relative to the holder, and means intermediate the handle and the blade for operating the latter by the movement of the handle.

14. In a safety razor, a holder comprising a stay plate, a guard'plate, and a retaining plate, said guard plate and retaining plate being pivotally connected, whereby the retainlng late may be adjusted relative to the guar plate, a blade positioned intermediate the guard plate and the retainin plate, means intermediate the stay an guard lates and o eratively connected with said p ate for guiding the latter, a handle connected to the stay plate, and means operated by the handle for imparting reciprocating movement to said blade.

15. In a safety razor, a guard plate, a retaining plate hinged thereto, means for locking the guard and retaining plates, a stag plate, eccentrics intermediate the stay an guard plates, guide ins on said eccentries, a reciprocating bla e coperating with the guide ins, and means for operating said blade, sai eccentrics being shiftablerelatively to said plates whereby the guide pins are operated to move the blade edgewlse aid toward or from an edge of the guard p ate.

16. In a safety razor, a holder having a guard plate, a retaining plate and a stay plate, a reciprocating blade, a stem fixed to the stay plate, a handle rotatable on said stem, and an eccentric pin projecting from the handle into engagement with the blade,l

said pin operatin to im art reci rocating movement to the lade w ien the andle is rotated.

17. In a safety razor, a holder having a guard plate, a retaining plate and a stay plate, a reciprocating blade, a stem fixed to l the stay plate, a handle rotatable on said stem, an eccentric pin projecting from the handle into engagement with the blade and adapted to impart reciprocating movement to the blade when the handle is rotated,l

and means for locking the handle rmly on the stem.

18. In a safety razor, a blade-holder, a

reciprocating blade therein, said blade having guide slots and an additional slot, meansengaging said guide slots for' directing the movement of the blade, a handle, means connecting said handle to the blade holder,

blade carried thereby and adapted to be reciyutecated thereonfa handle, and means co- Operating with said blade and handle Whereby turning ef the handle causes said blade .to be peciprpated on the blade holder.

20. In a safety razor, a blade-holder, a

' blade suppoited on the lblade-holder and connecting 'the blade and the handle for re-y ciprocating said .blade when the handle is turned about the axis thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name Fo this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. l WILLIS A; SMITH. Witnesses/I: Y

H. LBERNH'ARD, M. C.. POWELL. 

